A man from Kilkenny who died in a drowning accident while free diving in Norway “has entered the history book of a select few whose lives were so remarkable,” mourners heard at his memorial service, reports The Mirror.
Daniel ‘Danny’ O’Brien, 33, from Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny, lived in Bergen, Norway for less than a year.
The fatal accident occurred around 4:00 p.m. on August 10 after several successful free dives.
Right Sunshine denied the deep sadness and shock surrounding the medieval village of Graiguenamanagh since news of his sudden death broke.
Hundreds of mourners began to gather for the young man’s funeral about an hour before his memorial service at the 13th-century Dueske Abbey in the center of the picturesque village.
A single bell rang for more than 20 minutes across the village that links counties Kilkenny and County Carlow as mourners arrived at Cortez Abbey – about two kilometers away.
Fr Mark Townsend, Parish Priest led the Funeral Mass to those assembled in the Abbey who had travelled from all over Ireland, Norway, Australia and the US. Representatives from the Air Corps Number 4 Support Wing of which Danny was a former member were also in attendance.
Fr Townsend told mourners: “(We) extend our sympathies Mr O’Brien was a safety first advocate and was well-known for his lectures on its importance. This is a very sad occasion. Some have come from across the world you have travelled to be here today on this sad occasion and who are watching on the webcam from Norway and the Middle East and friends from waterspouts from all over the world,” reports The Mirror.
The Parish Priest continued that “so many have gathered here today from near and far. It’s an enormous loss of somebody so young and so talented. We’ve no answers. It’s a loss that’s shared by family and friends also by so many others around the world, from work and from sport, neighbours and friends and parishioners. He was a very, very talented and special person. We give thanks to God for that special life. God was definitely in the life of Danny. So brave and courageous, blessed by God in so many huge achievements,” reports The Mirror.
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